In the good old days, I used to stand in the shower, with or without goggles, and soak myself with champagne – all in an effort to emulate the clubhouse celebrations when the Yankees would clinch a playoff spot. This year? I had too much going on to take the photo after the Yanks won the division title the other night. So here’s a blast from the past.

I was happy, naturally, that the division was ours, but my mood was also somber. Not only was I concerned with all the injuries heading into the postseason, but I was dumbstruck when I read about Domingo German. Seriously? The young kid with the tremendous record this year and the promising future is suspended while MLB and the Players’ Union investigate charges of domestic violence? There must be a lot of truth to the claim, given how seriously everyone is taking it – plus the fact that German won’t pitch again in 2019. I’m sickened by all of this. Just disgusted.

So, yeah, I’m wildly eager to get the postseason underway and I hope our lack of starting pitching won’t send us packing after the first round. Somehow, this team, with all its bumps and bruises and disappointments, managed to win the division so there’s a fighting spirit that can’t be denied.

TAMPA, Fla. — Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees’ new closer and a four-time All-Star, was suspended for 30 games on Tuesday by Major League Baseball under its new domestic violence policy.

The suspension came after negotiations between Major League Baseball executives and lawyers for Chapman and the players’ union arrived at a number that was amenable to both sides, according to a baseball official who was briefed on the negotiations. As a result, Chapman will not appeal the ruling, although he had recently stated that he intended to do so.

Commissioner Rob Manfred had wanted to make a firm statement through the new policy, which was unveiled last August and constructed in conjunction with the union. But he also wanted a punishment that would hold up rather than be reduced or even overturned, as happened in recent domestic violence cases in the N.F.L. over which Commissioner Roger Goodell presided. Under the terms of the ruling, Chapman, who the police said fired eight shots into a wall of his garage after an altercation with his girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, in October, will be able to participate in spring training but will sit out once opening day arrives at the beginning of April. No charges were brought against Chapman in the October incident, but baseball’s domestic violence policy allows Manfred to impose discipline regardless of whether a player is charged with or convicted of a crime. Players can challenge any penalties through arbitration, but that will not happen in this instance.

Earlier in spring training, Chapman, speaking Spanish through an interpreter, said: “I’ve never hurt anybody, never in my life. That’s not my character or who I am.” As a result, he said he would appeal any suspension.

But on Tuesday, after his punishment was announced, Chapman took an entirely different tone.

“Today, I accepted a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball resulting from my actions on October 30, 2015,” he said in a statement. “I want to be clear, I did not in any way harm my girlfriend that evening. However, I should have exercised better judgment with respect to my actions, and for that I am sorry.

“The decision to accept a suspension, as opposed to appealing one, was made after careful consideration. I made this decision in an effort to minimize the distractions that an appeal would cause the Yankees, my new teammates and most importantly, my family. I have learned from this matter, and I look forward to being part of the Yankees’ quest for a 28th World Series title. Out of respect for my teammates and my family, I will have no further comment.”

Under the terms of the suspension, Chapman will be eligible to return to the major league roster on May 9, when the Yankees will be at home against the Kansas City Royals. Chapman will also forfeit $1.7 million of his 2016 salary.

In its own statement, the Major League Baseball Players Association said it and its members did not condone the mistreatment of others by playing or nonplaying personnel. “At the same time, the M.L.B.P.A. remains committed to protecting and ensuring the rights granted to players under the applicable provisions of the sport’s new Joint Policy on Domestic Violence. As such, the M.L.B.P.A. supports Mr. Chapman’s decision to forgo his right to an appeal.”

Manny Ramirez has officially been reinstated from the voluntary retirement list by Major League Baseball, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney on Saturday morning.

Ramirez faces a 50-game suspension when he returns, rather than 100 games, the league said earlier in the week when announcing he had filed for reinstatement. Ramirez’s 50-game suspension clock starts ticking when he signs with a team.

Ramirez already served a 50-game suspension in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he had been notified that he was facing another offense last April when he agreed to step away from baseball.

He also is facing criminal prosecution in Florida on charges that he slapped his wife during a recent argument. He told investigators only that he grabbed his wife by the shoulders during an argument and “shrugged” her, causing her to hit her head on the headboard of their bed.

So let me get this straight. He grabbed his wife and “shrugged” her and she hit her own head on the headboard. Hm. Maybe someone should “shrug” Manny.

Manny Ramirez has officially been reinstated from the voluntary retirement list by Major League Baseball, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney on Saturday morning.

Ramirez faces a 50-game suspension when he returns, rather than 100 games, the league said earlier in the week when announcing he had filed for reinstatement. Ramirez’s 50-game suspension clock starts ticking when he signs with a team.

Ramirez already served a 50-game suspension in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he had been notified that he was facing another offense last April when he agreed to step away from baseball.

He also is facing criminal prosecution in Florida on charges that he slapped his wife during a recent argument. He told investigators only that he grabbed his wife by the shoulders during an argument and “shrugged” her, causing her to hit her head on the headboard of their bed.

So let me get this straight. He grabbed his wife and “shrugged” her and she hit her own head on the headboard. Hm. Maybe someone should “shrug” Manny.